Thermal paste
Also: thermal compound, TIM
A thin grey paste between the processor and its cooler that helps heat move across.
The fuller definition
Thermal paste is a heat-conducting compound spread thinly between the processor and its cooler to fill microscopic gaps. Many coolers come with it pre-applied.
- Chip
Top surface
- Paste
Fills the gaps
- Cooler
Pressed on
A simplified relationship, not a screenshot or a complete design.
A concrete example
A pea-sized drop in the centre of the processor spreads when the cooler is pressed down.
The distinction that matters
More paste is not better; a thin, even layer conducts best.
Related terms
Where it is taught
Understand the hardware a local model needsSource and further reading
Hugging Face · Model inference and quantizationThe definition and example are written for this library. The link gives background, official documentation or legal authority as labelled. Legal scope depends on the jurisdiction and current text; product features depend on release and settings.